Marty Stuart: Country's Unique Showman

This appeared in Country Weekly - September 19, 1995

Marty Stuart sums up his career simply and easily: "Going for something unique while trying to score inside the mainstream."

With that statement, it's easy to see where Marty is headed: He pays tribute to the masters of country music while mastering a music style of his own. His music comes from somewhere out on the dangerous edge of country, from bluegrass, rockabilly and honky tonk styles. It grows from places where emotions--whether rowdy, fun or painful--are just barely kept under control. He has worked hard to blend elements in a natural way while mixing in his own considerable talents as a songwriter and musician.

Marty cuts such a wide path that his records, including his latest--The Marty Party Hit Pack, tell only part of the story. In addition to the previous hits found on the album--such as "Hillbilly Rock," his personal favorite, "Tempted," "Little Things" and "The Whiskey Ain't Workin' " (a duet with Travis Tritt)--there are five new cuts, including the feel-good dance tune "If I Ain't Got You."

"The music rings true to me," Marty said of the new project. "It rocks. It'll make you feel good and it can cause you to dance. It will help you in tough times and inspire you to keep going. I know."

Besides The Hit Pack, Marty also has a new Marvel comic book and a series of specials on TNN called The Marty Party, whose musical guests have included The Mavericks, Merle Haggard, Pam Tillis and Jerry Lee Lewis. As for what's next, Marty tells of a stop at a fortune teller's booth at a fair in Colorado. "I paid her to tell me about my future," he explained. "She took one look at my hand and gave me my money back. She said the job was too big for her to handle."